RTOs to be accountable for school bus fires

NOIDA: The UP transport commissioner, in a strong message to enforcement officials, has told regional transport officers (RTO)that they would be held responsible if a school bus or van catches fire due to poor safety features. The commissioner has asked transport officials to expedite an enforcement drive that ensures there are no untoward incidents.
The move comes in the wake of a private school van catching fire in Saharanpur district on August 4, in which three students died and nine others received serious burn injuries.
Rachna Yaduvanshi, ARTO (administration), GB Nagar, said transport commissioner K Ravinder Naik has issued a letter to the regional transport office to expedite the drive to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. "We have started the school bus safety enforcement drive. In one week, we examined 240 school buses and seized nine of them for violating safety norms," she said.
Transport officials said they will organize awareness programmes with schools and parents. "We have scheduled a meeting with officials and parents of various schools next week, where we hope to discuss safety measures that schools and parents need to observe," said a transport official.
School vans pose the biggest threat as often, they are fitted with LPG/CNG kits that do not follow standard safety norms and clearance.